In article ,
phorbin wrote:

In article , "Dioclese"
NONE says...

Poles have a black/brown appearance. To my knowledge, they were laying on
the ground for at least 15 years. Now, when I touch them, they leave a
dirty black dusty material with a touch of greasy feel to it. Washes off
with soap and water. No, its not dirt.

That sounds conclusive.

If I had them and they weren't fit for anything, I'd probably use them
as edges for a wood chip path somewhere,

I have some railroad ties every bit as old. I used them on the edges of
my driveway. Stuff like that (poles and ties) are excellent to use as
retaining walls to shore up embankments since it will take a zillion
years to rot. Mom and dad used poles when I was a kid to build a lovely
retaining wall at one side of the house since we lived on a sloped hill.
--
--

Peace! Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
-- Jack Nicholson